Oxygenated derivatives of 4-methylestranes



process.

United States Patent 3,002,007 OXYGENATED DERIVATIVES 0F t-METHYLESTRANES Willard M. Hoehn, Wilmette, 111., assignor to G. D. Searie & Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Aug. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 834,933 9 Claims. (Cl. 260-4973) The present invention is concerned with oxygen-contaming 4-methyl steriods and, more particularly, with oxygenated 4-methylestranes of the structural formula z E l X? wherein X is selected from the group consisting of methylene, carbonyl, hydroxymethylene, and (lower alkanoyl) oxymethylene radicals; Z is selected from the group conststmg of carbonyl, hydroxymethylene, and (lower alkanoyDoxymethylene radicals, and the configuration at carbons 1, 4, 5, l0, and 17 can be alternatively a or B. The term lower alkanoyl represents, for example, formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, valeryl, caproyl. and the branched-chain isomers thereof; said groups being the acyl radicals of alkanoic acidscontaining fewer than 7 carbon atoms.

The compounds of this invention can be manufactured by treating a suitable starting material such as l-hydroxy- 4-methylestra-l,3',5(l0)-trien-17-one with hydrogen in the presence of an appropriate hydrogenation catalyst. The instant 4-methylestranes are obtained by the use of one of several hydrogenation catalysts. Depending upon the particular catalyst employed, both the nature of the substituents at carbons l and 17 and the stereochemical configuration at carbons 1, 4, 5, 10, and 17 will vary. Itis known that a hydrogenation catalyst combines with both the hydrogen acceptor and with hydrogen, and that each is activated and held in such a spatial relationship with respect to each other so that reaction occurs. It is apparent, therefore, that the spatial relationship of the catalyst-acceptor attachment is dependent upon the precise nature of the catalyst. I v

in order to obtain the instant l7-mono-oxygenated 4 methylestranes, 1-hydroxy-4-methylestra-1,3,5 l 0) -trieni7-one is treated with hydrogen in the presence of platinum oxide catalyst and acetic acid. Both 4-methylestran- 17-01 and l7-acetoxy-4-methylestrane are obtained by this Oxidation of the former alcohol, suitably with chromic acid, yields 4-rnethylestran-17-one; while acylation with a lower alkanoic acid anhydride afiords the corresponding l7-(lower alkanoate) The various stereoisomeric 4-methylestrane-1,17-diols can be prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of l-hydroxy- 4-methylestra-l,3,5=(l0)-trien-l7-0ne in the presence of one of several hydrogenation catalysts. 4B-methyl-5a, l0a-estrane-1fi,17/3-diol is obtained, for example, by hydrogenation of the aforementioned substrate in the pres Patented Sept. 26, 1 961 ence of a platinum oxide or rhodium-alumina catalyst. On the other hand, 4a-methyl-5fl-estrane-lm,l7fi-diol can be manufactured by hydrogenation of the aforementioned estratriene by use of a platinum oxide, ruthenium dioxide, or rhodium-alumina catalyst. 4fi-methyl-5fi-estrane-lot, 1713-diol is preferably produced by hydrogenation in the presence of ruthenium oxide. Hydrogenation of l-hydroxy 4 methylestra 1,3,5(l0) trien l7 one with a rhodium-alumina catalyst yields 4m-methyl-5a-estrane1 lot,17 3-diol.

The instant 17-hydroxy-l-ketones are obtained by one of the processes described supra. For example, 17u-bydIOXY-l-fl-mCthYl-fic,lOot-fiStIfill-l-OHG is obtatined in the instance where a rhodium-alumina catalyst is used; but in the presence of ruthenium oxide, l7fl-hydroxy-4fl-methyl-SaJOa-eStran-IQne is produced.

The 1,17-diones of this invention are suitably manufactured by oxidation, preferably with chromic acid, of either the corresponding 1,17-diols or the l7-hydroxyl-ones. As a specific example, treating 4-methyl-5p+ estrane-la,l7fi-diol with chromic acid results in 4-methyl: 5B-estrane-1,17-dione. Acylation of the aforementioned l,l7-diols or 17-hydroxy-l-ones with a lower alkanoic acid anhydride in pyridine afiords the corresponding lower alkanoates.

Treatment of a 5a,10ot-estrane of this invention with an inorganic base such as potassium hydroxide results in an inversion of the configuration at carbon 10 and, thus, conversion to a Sea-estrane. For instance, 4,8-methyl- SeJOe-eStrane-LI'I-diQne is isomerized with potassium hydroxide in ethanol to yield 4fl-methyl-5u-estrane-1,l7- dione.

The compounds of this invention are useful as a result of their valuable pharmacological properties. They have, for example, progestational activity as evidenced by their ability to promote proliferation of the endometrial gland.

The invention will appear more fully from the examples which follow. These examples are set forth by Way of illustration only and it Will be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited in spirit or in scope by the details contained therein as many modifications in materials and methods will be apparent from this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In theseexamples, temperatures are given in degrees centigrade C.). Quantities of materials are expressed in parts by weight unless otherwise noted.

Example I A mixture of 10 parts of l-hydroxy-4-methylestra-1,3, 5(10)-trien-l7-one, .60 parts of acetic acid, 30 parts of ethyl acetate, and one part of platinum oxide catalyst is shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at about 900 p.s.i. pressure and at a temperature of 55-75" until the absorption of hydrogen ceases. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is adsorbed on sicila gel and the chromatographic column washed with benzene. Elution of the column with 5% ethyl acetate in benzene followed by recrystallization from aqueous methanol affords pure 17 8-acetoxy- 4fi-methyl-5onl0u-estrane, M.P. -68; [a] =-5.9 (chloroform).

The column is further eluted with 5% ethyl acetate in benzene to yield, after recrystallization from cyclohexane, 45 methyl 50,10ot estran 17 8 01, MP. 112-414"; [a] +7.5".

By elution of the column with 10% ethyl acetate in benzene followed by recrystallization from ether, 4,8- methyl 50L,10l1 estrane 15,17B-diol, M.P. l83185, [a] =-38.2; is obtained.

The column is finally eluted with 15% ethyl acetate in benzene and the residue from concentration of the eluate triturated with ether to afford 4a-methyl-5B-estrane-1a, 17,5-diol, M.P. 206-208"; [a] =+57 (chloroform).

Example 2 A mixture of 30 parts of l-hydroxy-4-methylestra-1,3, 5(10)-trien17-one, 65 parts of acetic acid, 32 parts of ethyl acetate, and 3 parts of a 5% rhodium-on-alumina catalyst is shaken at about 1100 psi. pressure and at a temperature of 60-70 until no further absorption of hydrogen occurs. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue is dissolved in benzene and adsorbed on a silica gel chromatographic column. The column is washed first with benzene then with 5% ethyl acetate in benzene, and the washings discarded. The column is eluted further with 5% ethyl acetate in benzene then with ethyl acetate in benzene, and the eluants combined and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. Recrystallization of the residue from aqueous methanol affords pure 17mhydr0xy-4B-methyl-5e,lOzz-estran-l-one, M.P. 145-146"; {a] =10.5 (chloroform).

The chromatographic column is eluted again with 10% ethyl acetate in benzene and the eluant concentrated to dryness in vacuo, resulting in a residue which is triturated with ether to afford 4fl-methyl-5u,10e-estrane-l5,17B-diol. The substance is identical with the material described in Example 1.

Further elution of the column with ethyl acetate in benzene followed by trituration with ether yields pure 4a-methyl-5B-estrane-1a,17;8-diol which is identical with the material described in Example 1.

The column is finally eluted with 20% ethyl acetate in benzene, the eluant concentrated to dryness in vacuo and the residue triturated with ether to afford pure 4amehyl 5a estrane 1a,175 diol, M.P. 165-166"; [a] =+31.9.

Example 3 A mixture of 3 parts of 1-hydroxy-4-methylestra-1,3- 5(10)-trien-l7-one, parts of ethanol and 0.5 part of ruthenium dioxide is shaken in a hydrogen atmosphere at about 1250 psi. pressure and at a temperature of 60-65 until no further drop in pressure is noted. The catalyst is removed by filtration, the filtrate concentrated to dryness in vacuo, and the residue adsorbed on silica gel. The chromatographic column is washed successively with benzene and 2% ethyl acetate in benzene, and the washings discarded.

Elution of the column with 5% ethyl acetate in benzene followed by recrystallization from ethyl acetatepentane affords pure 17fi-hydroxy-4 8-methyl-5a,10aestran-l-one, M.P. 130-132"; [a] =-17.9.

The column is further eluted with 10% ethyl acetate in benzene, and the material obtained from the eluate is recrystallized from aqueous acetone to yield pure 4B-methyl- 5p-estrane-1e,17;8-diol, M.P. 189-190; [a] =+27.

Further elution of the column with 10% ethyl acetate in benzene followed by trituration with ether affords pure 4a-methyl-5fi-estrane-1a,17fi-diol, which is identical with the compound described in Example 2.

Example 4 To a solution of 1.7 parts of 17,8-hydroxy-4/3-methyl- 5a,10a-estran-1-one in 32 parts of acetone is added, at room temperature, 1.8 parts by volume of 8 N aqueous chromic acid. The supernatant liquid is decanted from the precipitate which forms and is diluted with water. The resulting solid is collected by filtration and crystal- 4 lized from aqueous methanol to afford pure 4fl-methyl- 5m,10m-estrane-1,17-dione, M.P. 122-124"; [m] =+54. The identical diketone is obtained by substituting an equivalent quantity of 4,8-methyl-5a,10a-estrane-1B,17B- diol in the herein-described process.

Example 5 To a solution of 6.5 parts of 4a-methyl-5fi-estrane-lu, l7tt-diol in 320 parts of acetone is added dropwise, at room temperature, 12 parts by volume of 8 N aqueous chromic acid. The acetone solution is decanted from the precipitated solid and diluted with water. The resulting mixture is distilled to remove most of the acetone, and the crystalline product collected by filtration, washed with water, and dried to afford pure lu-methyl- 5j8-estrane-l,l7-dione, M.P. 128-130; [a] =-|27.5.

Example 6 To a solution of 3.5 parts of 4a-methyl-5a-estrane-la, 17fi-diol in parts of acetone is added dropwise, at room temperature, 6.5 parts by volume of 8 N aqueous chromic acid. The supernatant liquid is separated from the precipitated sludge by decantation, and is diulted with water. The solid which forms is collected by filtration and crystallized from aqueous methanol to afiord pure 4e-methyl-5a-estrane-l,17-dione, M.P. 134-136; [e] =+185.7 (chloroform).

Example 7 A mixture of 5 parts of 4fl-methyl-5a-estrane-l,l7- dione, 400 parts of ethanol, and 40 parts of potassium hydroxide is heated to reflux, then concentrated to a small volume and cooled. The resulting solid is collected by filtration and crystallized from acetone to produce 45- rnethyl 5u-estrane-L17-dione, M.P. -112 [u1 +80.2 (chloroform).

Example 8 The oxidation of 4p-methyl-5 3-estrane-1a,17/3-dio1 by the procedure described in Example 4, followed by recrystallization from aqueous acetone results in pure 4B- methyl-SB-estrane-l,17-dione, M.P. '1lO-112; [a] +19.5 (chloroform).

Example 9 A mixture of 3 parts of 4l9-methy1-5a-estrane-1m,'l7;3- diol, 5 parts of acetic anhydride, and 5 parts of pyridine is heated at about 60 for about one hour. The reaction mixture is cooled and diluted with water, and the resultant crude product collected by filtration. It can be recrystallized from pentane to afiord pure 17fl-acetoxy-4pmethyl-5a-estran-la-ol, M.P. 141-143"; [a] =+24.

By substituting an equivalent quantity of propionic anhydride and otherwise proceeding according to the herein described processes, 17 3-propionoxy-4fl-methyl-5aestran-la-oi is obtained.

Example 10 6 6 A compound of the structural formula 7. A compound of the structural formula CH5 CH3 OR /Z H 5 p x i 1.1 10 I 2 5 i H30 H wherein X is selected from the group consisting of car- Ha bony], u-hydroxymethylene, and a-(lower alkanoyl)oxy 15 wherem R as a lower alkanoyl radlcal' methylene radicals, and Z is selected from the group conl7ls'awtoxy'4fi'methyl'salox'estmne' sisting of carbonyl, B-hydroxymethylene, and fi-(lowcr m'methyl'sulowestran'np'ol' alkanoyl) oxy methylene radicals. No references cited. 

5. 4B-METHYL-5A 10A-ESTRANE-1,7-DIONE,
 6. A COMPOUND OF THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA 